Filament-binding means



y 9, 1929- w. l. RELYEA 1.719.852

FILAMENT BINDING MEANS Filed June 3, 1927 Irfiventor Walter I. Relyea by M Hls Attorney;

Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER I. RELYEA, OF SCHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FILAMENT-BINDING MEANS.

Application filed June 3,

The present invention relates to binding devices and more particularly to means for binding a filamentary electrode to a rigid sup port or terminal.

In the construction of electric discharge devices, it has been a common practice to bind a filamentary electrode to its terminals with a fine wire wound around theend portions of the electrode and terminal and spot welded at its ends to the terminal. In tubes employing a plurality of long filaments, the number of points at which the filament must be wired to a rigid supporting member or terminal is unusually large. For example, in 100 kw. in tubes the filamentary electrode is secured to rigid supporting members at twelve different points. To make a suitable junction between a filament and terminal or supporting memher with binding wire requires a great amount of time and necessitates the employment of skilled labor. According to the pres ent invention, I provide means whereby a filamentary electrode may be readily secured to a terminal by unskilled labor and in a fraction of the time heretofore required in the use of wire binding means.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, will best be un derstood from reference to the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of my improved binding means applied to the filamentary electrode of an electric discharge device, while Figs. 2 and 8 are perspective views of the binding means disclosed in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have indicated at 1 a leading-in wire adapted to be employed in an electric discharge device. At the lower end of wire 1, a plurality of angular terminals 2 are secured in any suitable manner. The lower end portions of the terminals are cut away to provide plane surfaces as indicated at 3, against which the end portions of filamentary electrodes 4: may be secured. A split cylindrical member or spring collar 5, stamped from a molybdenum blank, is formed into the shape indicated in Fig. 2, and provided with a substantially flat por- 1927. Serial No. 196,381.

tion 6, corresponding to the plane surface 3, and a semi-circular grooved portion 7 adapted to accommodate the filament wires 4:. The core of collar 5 is slightly smaller in diameter than the end portion of the terminal 2 and when collar 5 is applied to the terminal it clamps the filament firmly against the terminal. A pair of integral portions 8 and 9 extend from the upper and lower portions of one edge of collar 5. These extensions may be pulled over tightl against the outer surface of collar 5, as in icated in Fig. 3, and secured thereto by arc welding at points 10 and 11. If desired, filament 4 may be further secured to a terminal by arc welding, as indicated at 12 in Fig. 1.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A split cylindrical collar provided with a longitudinal groove whereby a filament may be secured to a supporting member, said collar being provided at one side thereof with an extension adapted to secure the opposite sides of said collar together.

2. A split cylindrical metal collar adapted to surround a supporting member and provided with a longitudinal groove whereby a filament may be held in position against the supporting member, said collar having a pair of integral extensions adapted to secure opposite sides of the cylindrical collar together.

3. In an electric discharge device, a terminal, a filament, and means securing the filament to the terminal, said means comprising a split cylindrical metal collar surrounding the filament and terminal and provided with a longitudinal groove and with an extension at one side thereof adapted to be secured to the opposite side of said collar.

4. In an electrical device, a supporting 

